of Leinster, and a personal insult was levelled against the head of this ancient and illustrious house, by superseding the noble duke in the command of the distinguished regiment over which he presided. On this occasion the ve. nerable Charles Alymer accompanied his son to the presence of the duke, and, presenting him, exclaimed, "Where Leinster is dishonoured, no honour is secure.""I have received," said the youth, "this sword from your Grace, to your hands I return it untarnished; and may it rust in its scabbard, ere it be drawn to support a faction, that have insulted my country in the person of Leinster's duke.” The worthy duke was not unmoved by the sentiments which Alymer had expressed, neither was he insensible to the wrongs of his country. His heart and his judgment were never for a moment estranged from her cause. He wanted the force of character, the spirit of enterprise, and the gallant daring of his brother, but was fully capable of hazarding life and fortune when he conceived the rights or interests of his country demanded it. The elder Alymer saw the approaching storm -every thing bespoke it. He was brave; he was a man of high and exalted virtue, but he had a species of religious veneration for the throne, and did not sufficiently distinguish between the exercise of constitutional authority and intolerable oppression. He deplored the determination of his son, and used every argument to dissuade him from the dangerous enterprise. Their mutual attachment was strong, and the conflict of contending passions painful, but youthful ardour, empassioned love of liberty, and a proud impatience of national wrong, prevailed. They parted, never again to meet. We The modern system of warfare, and the extraordinary achievements of men little accustomed to arms, would have afforded matter of surprise to the veteran of former days, were it possible to connect the present with the past; but circumstances interwoven with recent occurrences have convinced us that military prowess is not incompatible with youth. have seen the young warriors of modern France, baffle the skill of the most celebrated generals in the combined armies of Europe, and pluck from their brow the laurel which had been earned with honour in many a hard fought field; and we have seen the raw and undisciplined troops of that proud republic, scatter veteran battalions, which till then were deemed invincible, and whose discipline was the admiration of the world. The British troops under experienced officers, had all the advantage which situation and a well organized system afforded. The capital furnished immense magazines; an open country in front presented a free communication with the several garrisoned towns, between which and the British lines a regular communication was kept open through the medium of the yeomanry corps, who, for the present, had no more efficient duty to perform. The ground selected for the Irish camp was well chosen, and no advantage overlooked which circumstances permitted to be turned to account. It was an elevated situation, of considerable extent, surrounded by a friendly country, which was hourly forwarding supplies. At a little distance stood a half dilapidated tower, venerable for its antiquity and the sanctity of its walls, which, in the better days of Ireland, had formed part of a noble structure, raised by our pious ancestors, but demolished in later times by the fanatical followers of the ruthless Cromwell. From the summit of this tower was displayed the flag of Union, simple in its nature and device, but cheering to the hearts of Irishmen, for it was their own-their imperishable green. Here was the spot where the troops of the Union made their first stand; and though blood on either side had already been partially drawn, this was the ground which first presented the appearance of an organized force which merited the appellation of "The army of the Union." The active and enterprising spirit of the youthful leader, the bold and determined con duct of his men, and the avowed and inveterate hostility which fired every breast against the enemies of freedom, gave an almost irresistible impulse to all their movements, which more than counterbalanced any deficiency in discipline. The Irish peasant is little acquainted with the comforts of life, or rather he is uniformly familiar with its wants and privations; accustomed to hardship and toil, the discipline of a camp, and the perils of warfare, are to him less subjects of restraint than of gay variety and manly sport. Men of this description are soon formed into soldiers; warm in attachment, and unconquerable in love of country, they require no stimulant, but rather seem to sport with personal safety, in the pursuit of bold and daring enterprise. Of this class a considerable proportion were attached to the army of the Union; their services were invaluable, and their exertions unwearied in the general cause. But the great and imposing force consisted of men of more |